Do most Villagers own a portable Generator for their home?

[jayerose]

just wondering.

[retiredguy123]

No.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

just wondering.

not really, these days, the grid is very resilient and well designed and maintained in FL.

However, we aren't in the old areas of FL, and we are not near the shore. .

[Velvet]

No, just some of us chickens…. And some who need it for medical reasons.

[asianthree]

We needed a large generator with 220, up north, we would lose power for 10 days mid winter, zero and below temps. We could run everything including cable. It was expensive, we used it for 6 years, when we moved gave it to our daughter which they used for 2 months after a tornado damaged their neighborhood.

We need power to run some medical equipment, but have never had issues in TV.

[Altavia]

Duke Power stages 5,000 power restoration trucks and workers in the southern Villages.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/2250993-post1.html

[Djean1981]

No.

[Bill14564]

I currently don't but I really want to get a Honda 2200W. This would run a refrigerator or two which is really all I need. So far though we have five years with only a few hours of outage.

[tophcfa]

Had one in our garage for seven years and never needed to use it. Started it up occasionally just to flush fresh gas through the carburetor. Finally brought it to our northern home last year where I am more likely to need it and where storage space is not at a premium.

[Stu from NYC]

Never saw the need

[Bjeanj]

We don’t, but friends of ours lost power for a couple of days after Irma. I think it was a transformer. They got a generator earlier this year.

[Garywt]

We have one up north and have used it a half dozen times, the most for 4 days. When we finally make the move I will need to decide if it comes or if I give it to one of my kids. In FL I think it would need to be hard wired to the AC to make it worth wild.

[Vermilion Villager]

Been here for 2 years and I don't think the lights have even flickered. Still......I have a Honda 2000 up north that I don't use and probably will bring it down this fall. I figure bringing the generator down will guarantee the power never goes out!!:loco:

[Toymeister]

I have two. One will run what I need except a room AC. The second runs the AC.

My power outage story was one week long, the high tension towers were taken out by a tornado.

Your power is only as good as mother nature decides it is. Small generators are cheap.

I have often posted that a 1,000 watt Genset gets you TV, internet, a fan,cold food and some lights. You would be surprised how comfortable you can be in an emergency with these items.

[Triker]

Back in the midwest I needed a Honda 7000i generator to power our whole house so instead of selling it at a loss I brought it along. May never need it but it doesn’t eat and just sits quietly in the garage corner. Plus the tankless water heaters have an electronic igniter so we may be the only house on the street with a hot shower!

[MrChip72]

Always have a couple 12v inverters on hand so that I can run television, lamps, small appliances, gas oven and fridge off the car battery in a pinch.

[BobnBev]

Driving around I see some Generac Whole House Generators. I just had one installed 18Kw. I'll never be without A/C in the summer. Well worth the peace of mind.

[C. C. Rider]

I have two. One will run what I need except a room AC. The second runs the AC.

My power outage story was one week long, the high tension towers were taken out by a tornado.

Your power is only as good as mother nature decides it is. Small generators are cheap.

I have often posted that a 1,000 watt Genset gets you TV, internet, a fan,cold food and some lights. You would be surprised how comfortable you can be in an emergency with these items.

I have a portable generator that produces 3,650 watts which will take care of the basics pretty well, but it seems that the limiting factor is fuel storage. It runs on either gasoline or propane, but it's hard, or perhaps I should say "inconvenient", to stock up on enough fuel to last more than a couple of days, and even that would be with intermittent usage.

[Bilyclub]

Driving around I see some Generac Whole House Generators. I just had one installed 18Kw. I'll never be without A/C in the summer. Well worth the peace of mind.


So you had a buried propane tank installed ?

[Pairadocs]

No.

My guess is no, some I'm sure. We are in area of SECO, Sumter Co. Electric, not Duke. The rates are low (compared to most these days) and the service... even back through Charlies..what a hurricane that was back in (?) 2004, SECO is amazing, user owned and great people and equipment, always on top of things as far as I'm concerned. No, don't have family working for them or any personal interest, just never had such a great utility company anywhere else we've lived (native Floridians) in Florida.

[Rwirish]

Yes, just about everyone. 🤣

[Cpecka]

Have an RV, so yes stay in garage till used.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Yes; had it ever since we lived in Louisiana back in 2000-2003; start it up and put it under a load every month.

[rsmurano]

Portable generators are worthless IMO. We could have major outages caused by many storms, like the hurricane now. Tornados could take down the large hi voltage towers or substations and recovery time could be many days to weeks. How would it be like to live in TV when the heat index is over 100? What’s a portable generator going to provide you in relief to this? The best option would be to install a whole house backup generator to power your AC, refrigerator, microwave, TV’s, etc.. that would automatically power up (or power down) when the power grid goes down. They are a few thousands of $$$ but could be well worth it

[retiredguy123]

The house down the street has an outside Generac. It is very noisy. If every house in The Villages had one of those, I think a lot of people would leave town just because of the noise.

[birdawg]

Been in TV for ten years Lost power maybe five hours in ten years.

[mikeycereal]

No. But it's on my list. Would hate to lose power for a few days in the summer and be without AC. If anyone can recommend a good cheaper portable one that can keep ac, fridge, and internet going I'll check it out. Thanks.

[retiredguy123]

The Governor just said that if you are using a generator, it must be used outside of the house, outside of the garage, and at least 20 feet from windows and doors. How would that work in a villa in The Villages?

[shut the front door]

No. But it's on my list. Would hate to lose power for a few days in the summer and be without AC. If anyone can recommend a good cheaper portable one that can keep ac, fridge, and internet going I'll check it out. Thanks.

Now would be the time to buy, if you're going to. No sales tax on hurricane prep gear until Sept 8.

[westernrider75]

just wondering.

Probably not most but we bought one this past spring when they were on sale. I’d rather be safe than sorry, it was a small investment.

[Toymeister]

I have a portable generator that produces 3,650 watts which will take care of the basics pretty well, but it seems that the limiting factor is fuel storage. It runs on either gasoline or propane, but it's hard, or perhaps I should say "inconvenient", to stock up on enough fuel to last more than a couple of days, and even that would be with intermittent usage.

This is why small inverter generators are key. Five gallons of gas and my golf Cart's gas tank will keep me in power for five to seven days. That's not the case with a standard OHV 3,500 watt Genset.

Again, I lived through a mass power outage for a week. I saw the fallacy of large generators in practice when fuel is not readily available.

[westernrider75]

The Governor just said that if you are using a generator, it must be used outside of the house, outside of the garage, and at least 20 feet from windows and doors. How would that work in a villa in The Villages?

Driveway, backyard, etx

[Battlebasset]

I've thought about one to run the fridge and a portable AC unit, but have not done it.

The reason is not the cost, $500 or less would get what I need, but I don't want to have to deal with the maintenance and gas storage that would be required. I had one up north, and used it for at least a day each year. We were on a well, and I needed to keep the heat running in the winter. Had a basement with sump pumps. Made sense up there. Makes less sense down here.

I have an outlet built into one car that would help in a pinch. I also have a lithium ion golf cart with USB outlets that would keep my phones/other items charged for weeks. We have natural gas, so no problem cooking or heating up water. And we have never lost power. I would like to figure out how to put a convenience outlet on the golf cart.

So I don't do it.

[Switter]

I currently don't but I really want to get a Honda 2200W. This would run a refrigerator or two which is really all I need. So far though we have five years with only a few hours of outage.

I was always looking for an excuse to buy one so I picked up the Honda 2200W the other day. Nice little generator. Like you said, perfect for running the refrigerator, some lights, and my Internet router/modem since I am a remote worker. The thing that tipped me over the edge to buy it was the tax holiday. Save me 80 bucks

[bowlingal]

nope

[Andyb]

Underground utilities, generators not needed, except maybe for an EMP event.

[Lindaws]

just wondering.

Nobody I know has one

[Altavia]

So you had a buried propane tank installed ?

Natural gas powered.

I have a quick disconnect gas line at my grill that can be used for a portable Genset.

[Altavia]

This is why small inverter generators are key. Five gallons of gas and my golf Cart's gas tank will keep me in power for five to seven days. That's not the case with a standard OHV 3,500 watt Genset.

Again, I lived through a mass power outage for a week. I saw the fallacy of large generators in practice when fuel is not readily available.

They can run on natural gas if available.

[airstreamingypsy]

I have a 4,000 that runs on gasoline and propane, because of my Airstream.

[kkingston57]

Had one in our garage for seven years and never needed to use it. Started it up occasionally just to flush fresh gas through the carburetor. Finally brought it to our northern home last year where I am more likely to need it and where storage space is not at a premium.

Same experience but we lived in S. Florida and were struck by hurricanes with winds in the 90+MPH range. Needed generator for 7 days after a storm and 4 days after a storm. Most garages in TV are smaller and had no room for the generator. Typing this as I watch the trees sway in the 20 MPH range. Best thing about TV is 99% or higher underground power.

[Blueblaze]

I have one, but feel like a fool for buying it. I lived through three hurricanes in Houston where I had a generator, and all it ever did was increase the misery, as I attempted to manage my limited fuel supply long enough to last a three-week power outage. I always ended up throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of food anyway, and the first time I tried it, I destroyed a fridge from running it on insufficient power.

But I have to admit, it saved my home during the Big Freeze the year we moved here, when a 10 degree day shut down the nuclear reactor and wind mills that power the "oil capital of the world" and a million Houstonians had their homes flooded from burst pipes. I spent that day running around like a mad man with space heaters and light bulbs to keep my pipes from freezing.

So, fresh from that experience, and discovering that my new Florida home had natural gas, one of my first purchases was a portable generator big enough to run a fridge, a freezer, and a portable room air conditioner -- that could be run on natural gas. Then I never got around to hiring a plumber to install a valve I could use to connect it because I realized that it would almost certainly be a violation of Marion County's insane building codes and I'd never be able to find a plumber who would agree to do it

I also now realize that underground utilities and underground house plumbing makes the odds of a long power outage or my house freezing close to astronomical.

Boy, do I feel like a dummy. I ought to just sell the stupid thing.

[Bilyclub]

Natural gas powered.

I have a quick disconnect gas line at my grill that can be used for a portable Genset.


Considering my post was addressed to the guy with a whole house Generac in Sanibel... Like Tommy Lee Jones said in The Fugitive: I don't care.

[kkingston57]

Have an RV, so yes stay in garage till used.

Have RV also and minimum of 26 gallons of diesel. Can last 2 full days. Only real concern is if a bad storm struck and it became unusable.

[JMintzer]

The house down the street has an outside Generac. It is very noisy. If every house in The Villages had one of those, I think a lot of people would leave town just because of the noise.

It's not like they're running 24/7...

They kick on for a minute or so occasionally to test and then, not again until needed...

If there was a widespread loss of power, you're gonna' wish your next door neighbor had one, so you could "stop by" and cool off...

[kkingston57]

Portable generators are worthless IMO. We could have major outages caused by many storms, like the hurricane now. Tornados could take down the large hi voltage towers or substations and recovery time could be many days to weeks. How would it be like to live in TV when the heat index is over 100? What’s a portable generator going to provide you in relief to this? The best option would be to install a whole house backup generator to power your AC, refrigerator, microwave, TV’s, etc.. that would automatically power up (or power down) when the power grid goes down. They are a few thousands of $$$ but could be well worth it

Lived in S. Florida and had an $800 generator. Ran refrigerator, window size AC, TV and minor lighting. Slept at night, saved food and had some entertainment. Would have rather had a full size, but this worked good. Shared some of the power with my neighbors and they loved it. I

[kkingston57]

The Governor just said that if you are using a generator, it must be used outside of the house, outside of the garage, and at least 20 feet from windows and doors. How would that work in a villa in The Villages?

Good air flow around the exhaust is the key. Might lose friendship of neighbors. These generators are loud.

[Professor]

just wondering.

We have one. I picked it up cheap from a friend up north. It would run the refrigerator, a fan or two, charge cell phones and provide power for some lighting and my computers (since I teach online I need access-yes my cell phone works well as a hot spot) which is all we would need. Have not had to use it but for $400 it is cheap insurance.

[Pat2015]

In the 8 years that we’ve lived in TV, we’ve never lost power for more than an hour, and that was only one time. We don’t know anyone who has a generator, nor will we be purchasing one.

[MrFlorida]

No, not needed

[ThirdOfFive]

We have one, a Westinghouse 2500 inverter that I bought this past March. Good price, and putting it through it's paces it will run everything in the house except the A/C and we have enough fans to keep cool if need be.

I run it about once a month mowing my lawn and trimming hedges, just to make sure it is ready to go "in case".

[retiredguy123]

Good air flow around the exhaust is the key. Might lose friendship of neighbors. These generators are loud.
The Honda 2200W generator sold on Amazon is advertised as "super quiet". Is that not true?

[jrref]

I have two. One will run what I need except a room AC. The second runs the AC.

My power outage story was one week long, the high tension towers were taken out by a tornado.

Your power is only as good as mother nature decides it is. Small generators are cheap.

I have often posted that a 1,000 watt Genset gets you TV, internet, a fan,cold food and some lights. You would be surprised how comfortable you can be in an emergency with these items.

This happened here in the Villages? I don’t believe so.

[GATORBILL66]

[QUOTE=jayerose;2250980]just wondering.[/QU
Yes, I have one big enough for fridge, modem and TV.

[jrref]

Here in the Villages chances of loosing power for an extended period of time is very small. Why? Because most of our electric lines are underground except for some areas in the older northern areas. That means the substations and power line feeders are the only above ground infrastructure that can be effected by storms. These parts of the electrical system are extremely robust and it would probably take a tornado to damage them. Not that it can’t happen but it’s very unlikely. But if you have medical equipment to run then a generator may be something you want to get. Also as one reader mentioned, the electrical company, Duke stages a huge response team just in case so even if a transformer blew which can happen at any time, it will be fixed very quickly.

Also if we do loose power the villages water pumping stations have double redundant backup power so it’s extremely unlikely we would loose water. So no need to stock up on water, milk, bread and eggs for an extended period of time here in the villages.

[LianneMigiano]

We live just north of Glenview Country Club off of Buena Vista Blvd. and have only had 2 outages that I can remember. One was 5 minutes and the other was about 15 minutes. Generators are noisy and expensive. We had one in CT - and needed it when snowstorms overwhelmed the countryside. Leave them for people who "love the beaches" on either coast. They are the only ones who need one, I think!

[Rocketman43]

just wondering.

Been here 21 years, haven't had a real need. the longest power outage I recall may have been 2-3 hours max. But if a person requires one for medical equipment, it might be considered.

[Dgodin]

I bought a small one my first year here thinking I might use it to charge phones, batteries, and maybe the microwave in the event of a power outage.
Ive never used it in 5 years, except to test it. I don't keep gas in it. I have a siphon hose so I can fill it from the golf cart, but so far it is just taking up space on a shelf in the garage.

[Gsorace]

I would guess that most don't, and I haven't used mine in 10 years. I start it every few months, but that's it.

[Lancer]

I have one. Bought it in 2005 when living in Lakeland when we had 3 hurricanes pass by us in 2004. Used it once while in Lakeland for hurricane Irma. Our closing for our home here in TV was delayed by one day because of Irma. Have not used it here. Didn’t even prep it for Idalia.

[jimmy o]

Had a portable 5kv up north. Found it to be useful a couple times. But down here where pipes don’t freeze I see no need for it.
Let’s assume your power here goes out. It then becomes a comparison of outage duration and costs. Electric company will give you an estimate of outage length. If it’s a few hours, go see a movie and keep your fridge door closed.
If it’s a few days go to a hotel. Cost to replace food probably a couple hundred bucks, and cost of hotel room vs cost of generator.
A small portable generator to power electronics is nice but house might get too hot to allow you comfort: cost $300-$1000 depending on size.
A large automatic whole house generator would be very nice and you wouldn’t even know you lost power: cost $10,000 - $15,000 depending on size. Add in cost of fuel and rest runs and price goes up.
Me, I find it cost effective to just go to a movie for a brief outage, or buy fresh food and go to a hotel for any lengthy outage that most likely will never happen.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Good air flow around the exhaust is the key. Might lose friendship of neighbors. These generators are loud.

So, to keep comfortable and a few things running, you’d be worried about losing the friendships your neighbors? Trust me, they wouldn’t be concerned about you one bit if they had one and needed to use it.

[nn0wheremann]

just wondering.
Nope. However I do have an inverter that will run a lamp, box fan, TV and internet router off th golf cart and car batteries, and the car has a 70 amp hour alternator to recharge those.

[JayBee]

I have had the Honda 2000 quiet portable generator for 15 years, It is well insulated and very quiet,I dont know offhand what the DB rating is, but when its outside your home you barely hear it.Very very reliable as well, and this one has never needed repairs.

[DAVES]

just wondering.

I wonder what does it matter what most do. I've considered buying one but have not. First of all what do you want to run on it. To power your AC you need a large one. Do you have room to store one? Fuel how much gasoline do you want to keep in your garage?

[Velvet]

So, to keep comfortable and a few things running, you’d be worried about losing the friendships your neighbors? Trust me, they wouldn’t be concerned about you one bit if they had one and needed to use it.

Also, in my case I would share a bit of power. My neighbors were there for me (up and down the street) when I needed it most.

[samquiros]

I paid the electrical contractor who did my house to install a 50 amp plug so I could connect a generator and power the house. I purchased a 9000 watt dual fuel inverter generator and installed a soft start system on my AC. I’ve tested it and it works great. It runs my AC and all the fans and lights/plugs. If I want to run the microwave or the washer/dryer, I have to turn the AC off.

If I never need it, so be it. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I wouldn’t want to be one hour without power, much less 1 day or 1 week.

[Professor]

Portable generators are worthless IMO. We could have major outages caused by many storms, like the hurricane now. Tornados could take down the large hi voltage towers or substations and recovery time could be many days to weeks. How would it be like to live in TV when the heat index is over 100? What’s a portable generator going to provide you in relief to this? The best option would be to install a whole house backup generator to power your AC, refrigerator, microwave, TV’s, etc.. that would automatically power up (or power down) when the power grid goes down. They are a few thousands of $$$ but could be well worth it

My goodness...can't get by with a fan for a few days?

[banjobob]

A lot of people do have portable generators , I have one never used in 11 years most electric in TV is buried cables, high tension are exposed.transmission lines.

[Freehiker]

I have a Honda 2000i. I haven’t needed it here yet, but I have used it camping and such. It’s small, and I would rather have it just in case.

[Freehiker]

So, to keep comfortable and a few things running, you’d be worried about losing the friendships your neighbors? Trust me, they wouldn’t be concerned about you one bit if they had one and needed to use it.

You would make MORE friends because they would all be knocking on your door asking to charge their phones, use your internet…etc.

[midiwiz]

just wondering.

Why? been in FL since 2006 we have never found a reason to own one

[Freehiker]

The Honda 2200W generator sold on Amazon is advertised as "super quiet". Is that not true?

Yes, it is true.

There’s a big difference in a good inverter like the Honda, and a normal generator.

[KenLee100]

just wondering.

I checked it out last year and decided it was not worth the money for us.
Most power losses are due to trees pulling down wires at your home or in the neighborhood. The power company tries to restore power to the large blackouts first (due to press and government scrutiny) and leave the individual homes for last.
We have underground wires here in St Catherine.

[Babubhat]

Not lost power in 12 years living here. Buy before a storm and return if not needed

[bilcon]

I have been in the Villages for 15 years and never lost power. Don't waste your money.

[ThirdOfFive]

I paid the electrical contractor who did my house to install a 50 amp plug so I could connect a generator and power the house. I purchased a 9000 watt dual fuel inverter generator and installed a soft start system on my AC. I’ve tested it and it works great. It runs my AC and all the fans and lights/plugs. If I want to run the microwave or the washer/dryer, I have to turn the AC off.

If I never need it, so be it. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I wouldn’t want to be one hour without power, much less 1 day or 1 week.
That pretty much sums it up. After all, nobody buys car insurance because he plans on having an accident.

Generators are something that seems to hold their value pretty well. I paid something like $550.00 for my NexGen 2500 and could probably get at least that much if not more today if I sold it. Considering that, it certainly is not money wasted. Does anyone know of a reputable insurance that will refund you 50%, 75% or more of your premium paid if you never use it? I sure don't.

[MidWestIA]

Neighbor had one used it once in 15 yr for a few hours - get ice put in a plastic tub

[Rich42]

One nice thing about The Villages is that the utilities are underground for maximum protection. I have lived here for 17 years and never lost power! And that includes the 2007 tornado that almost wiped me out—I was watching the television at 3am as debris was raining down in my yard and on my house.

[NewRealms]

Having grown up in Florida, we've owned a generator for years.

[JackB]

Has anyone checked out the Lithium Ion power stations?

[Lottoguy]

If your interested I have a generator with 2,000 running watts for sale. New in the box and will sell it for $250.00. It will meet your important needs in a blackout.